(Minghui.org) I am a Falun Dafa practitioner from Hong Kong. I am over 80 and I began practicing in 1997. My health was very poor and my painful joints made life unbearable. In the 1980s to improve my health, I practiced all sorts of qigong to no avail. My faith in qigong masters dwindled when I noticed they had more interest in my money than in teaching me.
Both my husband and I are avid readers. We bought the book Zhuan Falun (Falun Dafa's main teachings) in a bookshop and my husband could not wait to read it. While he was reading, I sat across from him busy with something else. I saw him standing up and imitating the movements described in the book. From his movements, I felt a surge of energy moving towards me. I was amazed by the powerful energy generated from just reading Zhuan Falun and I was convinced that we should both practice Falun Dafa.
My Lack of Compassion
For 10 years now, I have been active at our Causeway Bay truth-clarification site in Hong Kong, where we talk to people about Falun Dafa and the persecution of the practice in China. My experience of clarifying the truth and awakening people is that we must have a pure heart. Regardless of who we talk to, whether they are members of the HKYCA (Hong Kong Youth Care Association, a CCP-affiliated organization, which acts as a branch of the 610 Office), violently attacking practitioners' truth-clarification sites in Hong Kong, or the police, if we approach them with compassion, the outcome will surprise you. As this is a sharing conference for practitioners who man truth-clarification sites around Hong Kong, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you some of my personal experiences.
At our truth-clarification site, we have exhibits and banners which expose the CCP’s crime of illegal live organ harvesting from incarcerated Dafa practitioners. One day, while standing before the exhibit, a man was loudly criticizing that such horrific pictures were displayed in public. I quickly explained, “You are a kind person and I know it’s difficult to believe that such sick things could happen.” He stopped complaining but soon started again. I looked within myself and saw that my heart was not pure enough. I was not treating the man with compassion but only acted to prevent a further escalation of an unpleasant scene. I felt terrible for not being able to calm him down so I could clarify the truth to him. At that moment, I recalled what Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, said,
“But hold onto your kindness” (“Dispelling Your Illusion”, Hong Yin IV)
And those were the exact words I said to the man. He took another look at me and left.
After that, I looked within again and found myself often repulsed by people who attacked or said anything negative about Dafa. Of course, I could still maintain my smile and clarify the truth to them. Not surprisingly, the results were not good because my heart was not pure.
One time, officers from Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) harassed us at the site. The were going to take away our exhibition board so I tried to grab it from them. It was three against one, so it was hopeless. I was defiant and refused to be taken advantage of. They called the police and I was arrested.
At the police station, I did not want to cooperate with the policewoman who tried to take a statement from me. The only response I gave was: “Falun Dafa is a righteous Fa.” She took it literally and wrote the words down but stopped to ask me how to write the word “righteous.” I was taken by surprise, “You don’t know how to write the word “righteous”? How can you be ‘right’ then?”
I joked about this policewoman for a few years until I realized one day the joke was actually on me. I was the one who had missed the point. It wasn’t right for me to be so lacking in compassion and I treated her the way I did.
Getting nowhere with questioning me, the policewoman gave up and released me with a $HK500 bond. But my case was still open and I had to report. I went back to the police station five times. Now I know this happened because I had to be repeatedly reminded to look inward and find where I had gone wrong.
In one visit to the police station, a policewoman wanted to take my fingerprints but I refused and held out till late in the evening. Looking exhausted, she begged me but I refused to cooperate. Sometime later, while off duty, this policewoman spotted me at our truth-clarification stand. She came over and said, “You have to have compassion.” I was shocked and instinctively knew they were words from Master. I realized my compassion was only skin deep.
The next time I was in the police station, another policewoman also had a go at taking my fingerprints. At first, I did not take kindly to her but I reminded myself to have compassion. As if hearing my thought, she turned around, gave me a smile and hastily finalized my case without asking me to do anything else. I was free to go.
Later I was asked to pick up our exhibition board from the police. When I arrived, I was greeted with annoyance. That surely was the result of my smug attitude.
From my past experience at the truth-clarification site, I would say it’s best to evaluate everything with a righteous mind, rather than a normal mindset.
Master said,
“Whatever you experience during your cultivation—whether good or bad—is good, for it comes about only because you are cultivating.” (“To the Chicago Fa Conference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress Vol. III)
I used to get very annoyed if the elevators stopped working when I had to bring the exhibition board to our site. When I changed my attitude – a little hardship is actually a good thing and I should thank the elevators for providing this opportunity – the task instantly became much easier.
The police frequently came to our site to check our identity cards. I always took the opportunity to clarify the truth about Dafa to them. When there wasn’t much time, I’d try to at least pass on the message “Falun Dafa is great! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great!” Sometimes they would say, “We are sitting on the fence on this matter. We are not against you (Falun Dafa) or the opposing side.” I would respond: “One can’t be neutral. One either supports what’s righteous or one is supporting evil. You must choose correctly.”
Despite the passing of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, our site remains active and still flies the banner emblazoned with “Heaven Eliminates the CCP.” Master in his mercy has saved us so we must in turn fulfill our mission of saving sentient beings.
Growing in Strength
Master said:
"Growing in Strength
The crouching dragon hasn’t yet done miraculous deedsWhile hidden in the mountains, growing in strengthThe wicked demons and spirits may now swell with prideBut one day the dragon shall soar and fill the sky"(Hong Yin V)
The evil may appear to be prevailing at this time, especially in Hong Kong. But I feel that Master has given us time to “grow in strength.” This precious time is for us to rid ourselves of any gaps in our cultivation. We need to constantly look inward and cultivate our every thought, which is crucial for us to “grow in strength.”
The above is my personal understanding. Please kindly point out any mistakes.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
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